Louvre-blind



P. H. WILSON AND C. H SAPPER.

LOUVRE BLIND.

APPLICATION HLED MAY I. ISIB- Patented Jan. 6,

3 SHEETS -SHEET l- P." H. WILSON AND C. H. SAPPER.

LOUVRE BLIND.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1-918.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

P. H. WILSON AND C. H. SAPPER.

LOUVRE BLIND.

APPLICATION FILLED MAY l. 1918.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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TAUEFATENT opinion.

PERCY H. WILSON AND CHARLES H. SAPPER, OF NORFOLK,-VIRGINIA.

LOUVRE-IBLIND.

Application filed May 1, 1918.

To all iii/mm it may concern.

lie it known that we, PERCY H. \VILSON and Cnaunns H. SAPPER, citizens of the United States, and residing at Norfolk;

county of Norfolk, State of Virginia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Louvre-l3linds, of which the following is a sj'iecification.

The iresent invention relates to improvements in louvre blinds.

The objects of the invention are to pro vide a blind of this type which is rugged and will not be injured by the weather; to provide a blind which is made from parts adapted to be manufactured in quantities by automatic machinery, and which can be asily asseuihled; to provide a blind of this type in which the chain employed for collapsing the blind is arranged so that it prevents longitudinal movement of the slats to provide a blind which employs structure that does not require the, slats to be notched or perforated in order to attach the same to the means which holds the slats spaced and parallel: to provide a clip or clamp removably secured to the slats for attaching them to the said spacing means; to provide an arrangement of parts such that the slats may be swung about an axis parallel to the length thereof to closely contact with each other in overlapped relation thereby forming a screen which may be adjusted to a position which is substantially weather tight; to provide a blind of this type which may be mounted in a shallow frame, the structure being such that the dimension of the blind in the direction of the width of the slats is not increased when the blind is collapsedtto provide a means for spacing and holding parallel the slats which is unaffected by the weather whereby the slats are always maintained in proper position and gene ally to improve blinds of this type so that. they will give satisfactory service and yet may be manufactured at a low cost. Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the description taken in connection with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an inside elevation of a frame having a louvre blind constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the top portion of the blind and frame;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side View of the collapsible metal tape which is employed to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1924).

Serial No. 231,953.

connect the slats and hold them in parallel and spaced relation;

Fig. at is an edge elevation of the tape shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view'illustrating one of the clips which is clamped to the slats and employed to connect the slats and collapsible tape;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a detail show ing the means for holding the blind when partially or entirely collapsed taken substantially on line 66 of F ig. 7 i

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of a detail showing one end of the actuating shaft at the top of the blind and a sprocket mounted thereon;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the screen with the slats tilted. to their closed and overlapping position;

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of another fprm of clip adapted to be clamped on the s ats.

Referring to the drawings the blind is llustrated in the usual frame 10 of the window although it is to be understood that the use of the blind is not limited to windows but may be employed in other locations and for other purposes. As shown a top support 11 is provided and this support has the spaced depending angle brackets 12 in which the shaft 13 is rotatively mounted. The ends of the shaft project outside the said brackets 12 and carry the sprocket wheels 13 which are arranged within the partial housings 14 and have the chains 15 and 16 passing over the same, these chains being provided for the purpose of collapsing the blind. The brackets 12 in addition to the shaft 13 also pivotally support the top slat 17, which may be rocked on its pivots by any suitable means As shown, for this purpose a toothed segment 18 is secured to the slat and meshes with a worm 19 rotatively supported in th brackets 20 fastened to the top support 11. The axis of the worm extends transversely of the slat and the worm is rotatively connected with a sprocket 21 arranged so that a chain 22 passing over the same may hang without interfering with the slats. It is obvious that movement of the chain 2:2, through the connections just described will rock the top slat 17 on its pivots. As will be described hereinafter the tilting or rocking of this top slat is communicated to the other slats of the blind for opening and closing the spaces between the same.

For the purpose of holding the slats parallel and in spaced relation when the blind is extended and also permitting the progressive and successive collapsing of the slats, a novel tape of jointed metal links is provided, this tape being claimed in our renewal application Serial No. 238,826 filed November 19, 1919. As shown in Figs. 3 and 1, this collapsible tape comprises a series of rigid links 23 pivotally connected together at their ends. For this purpose the end of one link 1s slightly offset as at 24 and the adjacent end of the adjoining link is oitset in the opposlte d1- rection as shown at 25 and these two oifset portions are pivotally connected as by means of a pin 26. As shown in Fig. 4:, this construction pern'iits the links to be arranged so that as viewed on edge they are substantially in a vertical plane, and also permits the ends,

such as shown at 27 and 28 to abut therebylimiting the angle to which the links may open. These ends 27 and 28 are arranged so that the angle to which the links may open is limited to less than 180. In this n'ianner all dead points are eliminated so that when an upward force is applied at one of the pivots it will cause the link above the same to be moved angularly in a closing direction. It is to be understood that although a specific means for eliminating dead points has just been described, this result might be obtained in other ways. The links are formed with similarly located apertures 29 for pivot pins 30. As shown in Figs. 2 and 8 these pins have a head at one side of the link and extend slightly from the other side where they are formed with an eye, connected. to the slats. For this purpose a clip such as shown in Fig. 5 is employed. As shown, this clip may be formed from a wire stock and bent up to form the hook portions 31, which engage the opposite edges of the slat. Intermediate the hook portions the wire is formed with a spring portion as 32 which acts to draw the hooks 31 toward each other to thereby clamp the slat. The ends of the clip are formed with the eyes 33 which are adapted to receive the eyes on the pins 30. It will be seen that the arrangement of the eyes 33 and the eyes on the pins are such as to provide a pivotal connection the axis of which is parallel to the length of the slats, or in other words, to the axis about which the slats themselves rock. On the other hand, the pivotal connection between the pins 30 and the links 23 and the pivotal connection between the ends of the links themselves are such [that they permit swinging movements of the links in a plane parallel to the adjacent edges of the slats. Because of this arrangement of the links, the tape does not take up any more space transversely of the blind when collapsed than when extended.

Preferably, there are two of the metal tapes arranged on the inside of the blind and two on the outside. At their upper ends these tapes are pivotally connected as at 3% to the top slat 17. Thus as the top slat 17 is rocked, for example, to the position illustrated in Fig. the right hand tape of this figure is raised while the left hand tape is lowered thereby tilting each of the slats about an axis parallel to the axis of the top slat. If desired the slats may be tilted to the position illustrated in Fig. 8. be observed in this position that the lower edge portion of a slat overlaps the upper edge portion of the next lower slat and that these two overlapping portions are arranged very close together, the thickness of the slat clip being the only thing which prevents them from being in actual contact. This close overlapping provides a blind which is substantially weather tight. Furthermore as the spacing tape is constructed for collapsing movement only in a plane parallel to the longitudinal edges of the slats it will be seen that these tapes have coi'isiderable lateral rigidity. Consequently they act to prevent the whipping of the blind in heavy winds or storms. Because of this feature, it is. not as imperative that the ends of the slats be held in guides as in the types of blinds heretofore used.

As shown in Fig. l, the chains 15 and 16 which are used to raise and lower the blind are secured as at 35 to the bottom slat 36. F urtheri'nore the position of the sprockets 13 is such that the chain hangs opposite the central portion of the ends of the slats. Thus these chains act to prevent longitudinal displacement of the slats.

It is desirable to hay e a. means for holding the blind partially or fully raised. For this purpose the angle brackets 12 have bushings 39 secured thereto and surrounding the shaft 13. As clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7 these bushings project from the side of the bracket toward the sprocket wheel as at 13 and are each provided with one or more ratchet teeth. or stops 40. The sprocket wheel has a pawl ll. pivoted thereto at l2, the free end of which is formed with a hook 43,- adapted to cooperate with the ratchet tooth 10. As shown the sprocket may be formed with a recess 44 in one side within which the pawl is positioned so that the inner periphery affords a stop to limit the outward movement of the pawl. If each of the sprocket wheels is provided with the above described locking means, the ratchet tooth 40 on one bushing may be arranged at a point diametrically opposite that on the other, so that one or the other of the pawls will engage a ratchet tooth after the sprockets have turned 180. It will be seen that if the sprocket wheels are It willturned in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. '7, the pawls will ride over the ratchet teeth and the blind will be raised. If the rotation is stopped, then one or the other of the pawls 41 will catch against a ratchet tooth l0 and hold the blind in a raised position. When it is desired to lower the blind the sprocket is turned a slight amount in the direction to raise the blind, thus freeing the pawl and then the blind is allowed to fall. the rotation of the sprockets causing sufficient centrifugal force in the pawls so that they are held out of engagement with the ratchet teeth.

A modified form of clip is illustrated in Fig. 9. This clip comprises the hook portions 31 adapted to engage the opposite edges of the slat connected by the intermediate portion 32 adapted to lie flat against the side of the slat. In punching out this clip, tongues 45 may he cut which after the hooks are formed, may be bent into the positions illustrated in Fig. 9. The apertures left by bending up these tongues form eyes 33 for receiving the pins 30. Before the clips are assembled on the slats, the tongues 45 are in the positions indicated by the dotted lines Fig. After the slat has been placed on the clip with the hooks 31 engaging the opposite edges thereof, the tongues A5 are bent down against the upper surface of the slats, thus securely holding the clip to the slat. In order to disengage the slat from the clip, it is merely necessary to bend up one of the tongues 45. then raise the corresponding edge. of the slat, whereupon it may be freed from the other tongue by a slight lateral motion.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 8 a plate 46 may be arranged at the top of the blind to form a housing when the blind is collapsed. This plate has been omitted from Fig. 1 in order to illustrate parts that would be hidden thereby.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

17 A louvre blind including in combination, a plurality of slats, collapsible means for holding said slats in spaced parallel relation including a jointed metal tape coinprising rigid links pivotally connected by rule joints for openii'ig and closing movements in a plane parallel to the plane dc termined by corresponding longitudinal edges of the slats and each link pivotally connected to a slat.

2. A louvre blind including in combination a plurality of slats, collapsible means for holding said slats in spaced. parallel relation including a jointed metal tape comprising rigid links pivotally connected at their ends for movement in a plane parallel to the plane determined by corresponding longitudinal edges of the slats, means for limiting the opening of said links to less than 180, and means for pivot-ally connecting each link intermediate its ends to a slat.

A louvre blind including in combination, a plurality of pa 'allel slats, means for progressively collapsing successive vslats of said blind including a rigid link pivoted to each slat and to the link of the next slat for swinging movement in a plane parallel to the plane determined by corresponding edges of said slats.

4. A louvre blind including in combination, a plurality of slats, means for collapsing and extending said blind including a jointed metal tape and means for pivotally connecting each slat to the tape including a clip extending across the slat and clamping the longitudinal edges thereof.

5. A louvre blind including in combination, a plurality of slats and means for collapsing the blind including a jointed metal tape, each slat having a removable spring clip pivotally connected to the tape.

(3. A louvre blind including in combina tion, a plurality of slats, means for collapsing the blind including a shaft at the top thereof, a sprocket at each end of the shaft, a chain passing over each sprocket and depending therefrom opposite the central part of the end of each slat and secured to the bottom slat thereby preventing longitudinal movement of the slats, and collapsible means connected to the slats to hold them in spaced parallel relation.

7. A louvre blind including in combination, a plurality of slats, means for collapsing the blind including a shaft at the top thereof, a connector secured to each end of the shaft depending therefrom opposite the central part of the end of each slat and secured to the bottom slat thereby preventing longitudinal movement of the slats, and collapsible means connected to the slats to hold them in spaced parallel relation when the blind is lowered.

8. A louvre blind including in combination, a plurality of parallel slats, collapsible means for holding the slats in spaced relation when the blind is lowered and for rock ing the slats each about an axis parallel to its length. including a jointed metal tape havinga single link for each slat, each link pivoted to a slat and its adjacent links for swinging movement in a plane parallel to a plane determined by corresponding edges 0 l the slats and said pivotal. connection of the. links to the slats including a pivot parallel to said axis.

9. A louvre blind including in combination, two pairs of jointed metal tapes. one tape of each pair being at the front and the other at the rear of the blind, each tape comprising a series of rigid links pivotally con nected end to end with alternate links arranged to swing in the same direction, a slat clip pivotally interposed between come sponding links of the tapes of each pair and a slat removably clamped by corresponding clips of each pair of tapes.

10. A louvre blind including in combination, two pairs of jointed metal tapes, one tape of each pair being at the front and the other at the rear of the blind, each. tape comprising a series of rigid links pivotally connected end to end for swinging movement in a plane parallel to the plane determined by corresponding longitudinal edges of the slats, a slat clip pivotally interposed between corresponding links of each pair being connected to the links intermediate their ends, and a slat carried by corresponding clips of each pair of tapes. I

11. In a louvre blind having tapes, a plurality of imperforate slats, and means for supporting the slats including clips clamping the longitudinal edges of the slats and pivotally carried by the tapes whereby the slats may be readily removed and replaced.

12. In a louvre blind, the combination with the imper'forate slats, of means for detachably supporting the same comprising clips, each having a hook at one end adapted to engage the edge of a slat, a part at the other end formed to engage the opposite edge of the slat, and an intermediate spring portion for drawing said .hook and part together to clamp the slat.

13. In a louvre blind, the combination with the tapes and slats, of means for detachably supporting the slats including clips, each having hooks adapted to engage the opposite edges of a slat and provided with eyes, and means passing through said eyes for pivotally securing the clips to the tapes.

14. A louvre blind including in combination, a plurality of slats and two pairs of tapes supporting said slats in spaced parallel relation, one tape of each pair being at the front and the other at the rear of the blind, each tape comprising rigid links pivotally connected by rule joints for opening and closing movements in a plane parallel to the plane determined by corresponding edges of the slats, each link being pivotally connected to a slat.

-15. A louvre blind including in combination, a plurality of slats and two pairs of tapes supporting said slats in spaced parallel relation, one tape of each pair being at the front and the other at the rear of the blind, each tape comprising rigid links pivotally connected to their ends for n'iovement in a plane parallel to a plane determined by corresponding longitudinal edges of the slats, means for limiting the opening of said links to less than 180, and means pivotally connecting each link intermediate its ends to a slat.

16. A louvre blind including in combination, a plurality of imperforate slats two pairs of tapes, one tape of each pair being at the front of the blind and the other at the rear, slat supports extending between the tapes of each pair and pivotally carried thereby, said supports having means detachably securing the slats thereto, whereby a slat may be removed and replaced without disturbing the other slats. I

17. A louvre blind including in combination, a plurality of iinperforate slats, two pairs of tapes, one tape of each pair being at the front of the blind and the other at the rear, slat clips extending between the tapes of each pair and pivotally carried thereby, said clips having means detachably gripping the slats whereby a slat may be re moved and replaced without disturbing the other slats.

In, testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

PERCY H. WILSON. CHARLES H. SAPPER. 

